When is best time to paint the roof?

[kowalewska.ka]

When is the best time to paint the roof - does it really have to be before the rack for solar etc goes on it?

The reason I ask is that I live in Calgary, Alberta (-15C right now) and working on my bus in the winter outside (no warehouse unfortunately), I need to finish my built end of April but I could paint later. I wanted to wait for warmer days because it is going to be difficult for the paint to dry out in this cold. But I also wanted to install roof rack to place solars and storage box on my roof....
Any tips how to manage the timing here?
Thanks!

 

[nikitis]

I'm wrestling with the order of things myself. Typically you'd want to paint last anyway. Make the roof rack, test fit panels/decking, but don't mount them yet, then when you can paint it towards the end, you can still paint the top and the rack at the same time, then place your panels/decking, is what I'd do. Make all of the structural changes before paint imo.

It's not much to just tape up the rack if it's going to be a different color or solid metal color.

 

[sportyrick]

If you use rubberized roof paint then I would paint last after everything is mounted, the roof paint will seal everything up.